Sociology: Education: Cultural Deprivation (class)

What is cultural deprivation?

Some sociologists claim that primary socialisation teaches us the basic values and behaviours important for academic success. This ‘cultural equipment’ includes motivation, language skills and self discipline. Working Class children will not be socialised with the ‘correct’ cultural equipment required to succeed. Ergo they will struggle more and grow up ‘culturally deprived’.

What is the primary criticism of cultural deprivation theory?

It has been labelled a form of ‘victim blaming’.

How did Archer et al (2010) criticise cultural deprivation in policy making?

Claimed it was wrong to assume the problems of the working class were down to low aspirations and dysfunctional families.

What were Sugarman’s (1970) 4 features of working class subcultures?

• Fatalism (believing they can’t change their status)

• Collectivism (value more being part of a group than individuality)

• Seek immediate gratification

• Present-time orientation (sees the present as more important than the future)

Why does Sugarman (1970) claim values differ in the classes?

Says middle class jobs are more secure and offer more opportunity for advancement, encouraging ambition and planning. Working class jobs have less career structure and peak early.

Outline Hubbs-Tait (2002)

Parents using language that challenges their children to evaluate their understanding improves the children’s cognitive performance.

Outline Feinstein (2008)

Highly qualified (often middle class) parents use advanced language and praise, encouraging children to develop a sense of competence.

Working class parents were more likely to rely on simple descriptive statements that didn’t help their children as much.

How do cultural deprivation theorists think language affects education?

Claim language used in working class families is deficient and speak in a restricted code, bad for academic success.

Outline Troyna and Williams’ (1986) criticism?

Claim it isn’t the speech itself but the biases against students speech. Teachers have a ‘speech hierarchy’ and label working class or Black speech patterns lowest.

Outline Bernstein’s (1975) speech codes

• Restricted code: used by working class, limited vocabulary and descriptive not analytical. Relies on context or gestures.

• Elaborated code: used by middle/upper class. Analytical not descriptive. Does not rely on context or gestures.

Outline Gaine and George’s (1999) criticism of Bernstein

Claim Bernstein exaggerates differences and oversimplifies speech patterns, which have most likely changed since he conducted research in the 70’s

Outline Douglas (1964)

Claimed working class parents were less ambitious and placed less value on education.

Outline Goodman and Gregg (2010)

Found parental involvement was the single most important factor in achievement.

Outline Feinstein (2008)

Argued parents education levels were the most important factor in a child’s achievement and since middle class parents were more likely to have good qualifications they are more equipped for socialising their children well. However did say regardless of class, parents with higher qualifications would raise higher achieving children.

What were the 3 ways Feinstein (2008) argued middle class parents prepped their children better for education?

• Parenting style: emphasis on constant discipline and high expectations, not just “do what you’re told” which doesn’t help independence.

• Parent’s educational behaviours: More aware of what’s needed for education (reading to children etc)

• Use of income: More able to buy ‘intellectual’ toys or books and use income to promote education.

What is compensatory education?

Compensatory education programmes aim to reduce deprivation by providing more resources in poorer areas.

Give 3 examples of compensatory education programmes?

• Operation Head Start in the USA (1960’s)

• Education action zones (1998)

• Sure Start (1998)

Outline Halsey (1977) and Whitty (2002)

Both alleged the compensatory education programmes were ineffective because of the lack of funding (only 0.2% of education spending)

What is a criticism of Education Action Zones (1998) specifically?

They perpetuated marketisation which didn’t help students or struggling schools.

Outline Reay’s (2017) criticism

Working class students do not just fail because of a lack of aspirations, they struggle because of funding issues.

Outline Keddie’s (1973) criticism

Working class and/or non-white children are not culturally deprived they are culturally different.

Outline Evans’ (2006) criticism

Working class parents are not disinterested in their children’s education, they know it will get them better jobs.

Outline Blackstone and Mortimore’s (1994) criticism

Working class parents can’t afford to attend as many events or contribute all their time to their child’s education as many work long hours or multiple jobs. They aren’t simply ‘disinterested’